Review: Suspicious Origin

After Britt Anderson, a talk show producer from Boston, receives the crushing news that her estranged,older sister, Greta Lynch had died in a fire and her 11-year-old niece, Zoe, was hurt, Britt leaves Boston, where she is employed as a producer for a late-night talk show, for the rural Vermont for the funeral. Britt discovers her unexpected love and connection to her niece and that her sister's death was of "Suspicious origin". After Britt signs for a letter from a detective agency, Alec Lynch, starts behaving suspiciously. Britt joins forces with a local reporter to build a case against Alec who maintains that his marriage was great and that he loved his wife but that his wife had become obsessed with finding the mother that had deserted them as children.

After the funeral services, Britt meets the neighbor who rescued Zoe from the fire. Kevin Carmichael, who sustained injuries, and his wife have made arraingements for them to adopt the baby of a rude, calculating and manipulating teen. During the after services gathering, Britt, while thanking Kevin, meets Vickie and wonders why Zoe likes her so much.

Since Alec literally threw Britt out of the house that he and his daughter share, Britt takes up residence in a cottage. The cottage mysteriously becomes a fire casuality. With the accumulated, although circumstantial evidence, Alec is arrested for the arson and death of his wife. His only witness was a young man who he hit as he left his house that night. Only after Alec is arrested does Britt seem to think that she acted hastily and works to free Alec and find the real murderer.

In all fairness to Patricia MacDonald, she gives enough clues throughout the book but still manages to hold you captive until the very unsuspected end. The heroine is a spunky woman who isn't afraid to admit her mistakes and works hard to correct them. This book, as are all of Patricia MacDonald's books, a one nighter and a definite keeper to be reread.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, NH Storm

Book Review: Suspicious Origin